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HP OPINION BE REALISTIC WITH THOSE RESOLUTIONS HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR STICKING WITH THOSE GOALS, WRITES MELANIE MCGREGOR MELANIE MCGREGOR Column There's just something about the start of another trip around the Sun that can inspire new goals and habits — the traditional terns: Fitness centres have been busy for the first few weeks of January and then they began to empty out. Maybe broccoli sales went through the roof for a month and then the chips and cookies climbed back up the list. In other words, we don't stick to everything we re- solve to do and that some- times contributes to stress and feeling down on our- selves. I turned to some people in my life toask them about any new year's resolutions they'd been able to keep and what tips they could of- fer. arned is that there was no magic secret. They had set goals that were realistic at first rath- er than pie-in-the-sky aspi- rations and they started TRUSTED LOCAL NEWS ACROSS ONTARIO: - Cambridge * Durham * Guelph * Halton Ma ETaliiveya) - Kawartha + Muskoka * Niagara * Ottawa Valley - Peel * Simcoe County * Toronto * York Region "There were two simple themes that consistently came out: ‘be reasonable’ and ‘make it gradual’. slow, recognizing that new habits take time to build. Here are a few achieved resolutions and tips they shared that might just bring some inspiration: + One year, I decided I would eat more vegetables. I started with saying would have salad at Teast once iy for January. Some days, I didn't feel like it, but I just told myself it was only for January. Once that month was done, I still had vegetables almost ev- ery day and I still do. I'm glad I made myself stick to it for that month. sThada ad habit of be- ing on my phone for too long before I went to sleep. So last January, I set a tim- er on my phone that would shut it down at a certain time on weeknights. I told my i they couldn't let me go back on it after that no matter what I said or did! I would read be- fore bed instead and I got much better sleep. I still had it on weekends then, ut now I always shut it off before I go to bed. + I hate the cold. A few years ago, I said that I would try going out for a walk for 5 minutes every day after work. I hoped that I'd get used to the cold and start more but I never re- ally went for longer than 10 a minutes. It's better than 7 nothing andI don't getdown 4 3 on myself for it. Wishing you a safe and = healthy new year of rea- sonable and gradual reso- lutions. Melanie McGregor is the communications ai vancement specialist at the Canadian Mental Health Association Halton Region Branch, which provides mental health/addiction community support and education. Visit www.hal- ha.ca for more in- Sormation and follow @cmhahalton on Twitter. a Fy 2 Fy S s Fy 8 2 5 2 2 R 8 SEND US YOUR LETTERS 10 The Independent and Free Press values the opin- ions of its readers, and the community at large. With that said, we wel- come your letters to the ed- itor on all matters that im- pact area residents. Weask that letters beno more than 275 words, and include the fall name and town of the writer. Your address and tele- phone number must also be included for verification purposes only. THE EDITOR We do not publish anon- ymous letters. Letters will be edited or rejected for of- fensive content, factual er- rs, legal issues or space restrictions. Send your letters to newsroom@theifp.ca. o%e *, Metroland Take advantage of this limited-time introductory offer A NEW WAY TO STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR COMMUNITY! Get full access to all our weekly community newspapers online, from one convenient website. Plus, enjoy the enhanced translation feature, which allows you to read stories in several different languages! We've got you covered Our local journalists report on the things that are important to you and your neighbours; whether it’s local politics, schools, businesses or upcoming community events-—if you're thinking about it, chances are we're writing about it. 19 VISIT communitynews.pressreader.com TODAY! *Your credit card will pl 99° FOR A YEAR! jor to the ye te 4 one-year fixed term, i can sign in to the ePaper You will need ustomer eciaica P tre by calling 1-833-440-7474 or by email at p for this subscriptic eordyouy